Edith Head

Fashion Designer

Born: 28 October 1897

Died: 24 October 1981

Birthplace: San Bernadino, California

Best known as:

Oscar-winning costume designer for Hollywood movies from 1924-82

"Gowns by Edith Head" was one of the most-seen motion picture credits of the 20th century. She was Oscar-nominated an amazing 35 times, winning a total of eight best costume design Oscars for her work. Edith Head began work as an assistant costume designer in Hollywood during the 1920s, and she eventually became the preeminent costume designer of Hollywood's golden age, earning eight Oscars (and over 30 nominations) during a career that included work on hundreds and hundreds of movies. Head had a long professional relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, designing the costumes for most of his features: she dressed Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant for Notorious (1946), and Grace Kelly and Grant for To Catch a Thief (1955). Her other films include Beau Geste (1939), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and Sometimes a Great Notion (1971).

Extra credit:

Edith Head was featured in a Google Doodle on October 28, 2013... Her last film was the Steve Martin comedy Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, which was released after her death in 1982... Edith Head's eight Oscar wins, all in the category of best costume design, were for these films: The Heiress (1949), Samson and Delilah (1950), All About Eve (1950), A Place in the Sun (1951), Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), The Facts of Life (1960) and The Sting (1973). The listed years reflect the release dates of each movie, and the Oscars were awarded the following year; for instance, her Oscar for The Sting was given in 1974... Between 1948 and 1967, separate costuming awards were given for color and black-and-white films, which is how Edith Head won for both Samson and Delilah (color) and All About Eve (black-and-white) in 1951.